Per capita spending on children grew by 18.6 percent between 2007 and 2010, coming out to $2,123 in 2010. The inflation rate throughout this time period was 4.9 percent. Spending differed by region, with the highest per capita spending in the Northeast at $2,280 in 2010 and the lowest in the West at $1,969 in 2010, according to the report.
Spending on children for all healthcare categories surpassed the inflation rate and growth in service utilization from 2007 through 2010. The report said the accelerated spending was mostly due to rising prices, as the increased prices paid to providers surpassed growth in the utilization and intensity of services.
In 2010, the largest portion of children’s healthcare spending — 40.3 percent — went toward professional procedures, such as primary care provider visits, immunizations and preventive medicine. From 2007 and 2010, children’s inpatient admissions and outpatient visits declined, although inpatient mental health and substance abuse admissions increased by 23.8 percent.
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